Locking means



y 8, 1963 R. c. CAMPBELL 3,091,011

LOCKING MEANS Filed Dec. 16, 1960 ROBERT C. CAMPBELL INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice Bfl lgfll l Patented May 28, 1 9633,091,011 LGCKENG BEANS Robert C. Campbell, Jersey City, N41,, assignorof one-half to Paul A. Godhy, Harrison, NJ. Filed Dec. 16, 1960, Ser.No. 76,385 13 Claims. (Cl. 2481) The present invention relates tolocking means, and more particularly, to locking means for skis or thelike.

It is an object of the present invention to provide locking means orclamping means for large and bulky objects, such as skis or the like,which are generally exposed to prevent loss thereof because they are ofsuch a nature that they cannot be readily stored and locked up.

Although the locking means of the present invention will be described inconnection with skis, it is not to be considered limited thereto, as itwill be readily apparent that the locking means may be used for laddersand other similar objects wherein the large size of the object preventsit from being stored and locked in a small compartment or space so thatit cannot be lost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide locking meansfor skis or the like which is adjustable to fit any size ski and locksin seconds.

It is another object of the present invention to provide adjustablelocking means for skis or the like which can be locked to anything,anywhere to prevent loss of the skis.

It is another object of the present invention to provide locking meansfor skis or the like in which, even if the locking means are removedfrom the fixed ski rack, car top, etc., the locking means are sodisposed between the foot bindings and front shovel end of the skis thatit cannot be removed from the skis without causing permanent damage tothe skis.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description when consideredin connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, andin which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pair of skis with the locking means of thepresent invention clamped to the skis to secure them to a ski rack;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the locking means and skisas seen in front of the rack;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking means of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the locking means of thepresent invention, with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate themethod of adjusting the locking means to clamp it to an object.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1! generally designateslocking means or clamping means for skis or the like, comprising a firstclamp member 11 and a second clamp member 12. Clamp member 11 isgenerally T-shaped and is provided with a rectangular flat steel plate13 having outwardly extending cross bars or braces 14 and 15 formed onone end thereof and disposed at right angles to the strap 13. Bars 14and 15 terminate in inwardly bent flanges 16 and 17 extending parallelto strap 13. A plurality of spaced rectangular notches or slots 18 aredisposed in the top of the strap in the end thereof opposite the crossbars while a horizontal or longitudinally extending slot 19 is disposedin the lower portion of the strap. Slot 19 extends from a pointoverlapping notches 18 to a point adjacent the end of the strap.

Clamp member 12 consists of a U-shape member 20 having a bight 21 ofsufficient size to permit the clamp member to be disposed on strap 13and be easily moved or slid back and forth along the strap. A downwardlybent lug or ear 22 is formed on the U-shape member adjacent the 'bightfor insertion within the notches 18 of the first clamp member. The legs23 and 24 of the U-shape member have outwardly extending cross bars 25and 26 thereon, similar to the bars of the first clamp member, andterminate in inwardly bent flanges 27 and 28, similar to flanges 16 and17, to hold a pair of skis 25 therebetween. The lower portion of thelegs of member 20 have spaced apertures or openings 29 and 30 therein.Openings 29 and 30 are disposed in alignment with slot 1? of strap 13.The end of a flexible steel strand cable 31 is threaded through openings29 and formed into an eye 32, after which a cylindrical fastener 33 isclamped around the cable to permanently secure clamp member 12 on clamp11. Clamp member 12 may be moved toward and away from the first clampmember to readily adjust the distance between the clamp members and holddifferent size skis therebetween. It is readily apparent that clampmember 12 may be turned or pivoted upwardly with respect to clamp member11, as illustrated in FIG. 4, so that the clamp member may be easilyslid or moved back and forth along strap 13 to insert lug 22 in notch 18therein to readily adjust the distance between the clamp member to fitany size skis desired to be held therebetween.

The other end of the cable 31 is also formed with an eye 34 permanentlyformed therein by a clamp 35, similar to clamp 33 disposed around thecable. Opening 39 is adapted to receive the hasp or blocking bar 36 of aconventional padlock 37.

When it is desired to lock a pair of skis to a permanent rack or fixture38, the portion of the skis between the foot binding and front shovelend are placed against strap 13 with the shovel extending outwardly fromthe strap, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The sides of the skis are theninserted between the cross bars and flanges of clamp member 11.Thereafter, clamp member 12 is moved along strap 13 toward clamp member11 until its cross bars 25 and 26 and flanges 27 and 28 tightly engagethe opposite sides of the skis, after which lug 22 is inserted into thenotch 18 adjacent it. Thereafter, the free end of cable 31 is threadedthrough ski poles 4i and wrapped around the rack 38, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, and eye 34 is threaded in lock hasp 36. The hasp is insertedthrough opening 36 and the lock is closed to thus lock the skis.

It will be noted that the present invention provides a novel lockingmeans for skis, ladders, and the like, which is readily adjustable todifferent sizes and which prevents large and bulky objects which cannotbe easily stored and are generally exposed, from being lost. Inaddition, it will be noted that the adjustable locking means of thepresent invention is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture,and cannot be removed from the locked object without causing damagethereto.

Inasmuch as various changes maybe made in the form, location andrelative arrangement of the several parts without departing from theessential characteristics of the invention, it will be understood thatthe invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appendedclaims.

V's hat I claim is:

1. A device for securing skis and the like comprising a flat strap,outwardly extending cross bars disposed on one end thereof, inwardlyextending flanges disposed on said cross bars, said strap having aplurality of spaced notches therein opposite said cross bars, a U-shapemember slidably disposed on said strap, a downwardly extending lug onsaid U-shape member for insertion in one of said notches to preventsliding of said U-shape member on said strap, another cross bar andanother flange disposed on each leg of said U member, said other flangesextending toward said first mentioned flanges to hold an objecttherebetween, there being a longitudinal slot in said strap below saidnotches, the legs of said U member having openings therein in alignmentwith said slot, a

flexi-ble cable having an end threaded through one of said openings andsaid slot securing it to said U-shaped member, and a padlock threadedthrough another of said openings, said slot, and another end of saidcable, to fix said U-shaped member with respect to said strap, anddetachably lock said cable thereto, to permit the device to be securedabout a fixed object.

2. A device for securing skis and the like comprising first clamp meansand second clamp means slidably disposed on said first clamp means,means for locking said second clamp means in a fixed position relativeto said first clamp means, elongated flexible means having one endthereof secured to said second clamp means and said first clamp means topivotally connect said second clamp means to said first clamp means in aplane parallel to a plane of a part of said first clamp means andadapted to be wrapped around a rack, and means for detachably lockinganother end of said flexible means to said second clamp means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said flexible means comprises a metalcable having looped ends.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for detachably lockinganother end of said flexible means consist of a padlock.

5. Locking means for a bulky object comprising a strap member, a firstclamp member disposed on one end thereof, a second clamp member disposedon said strap member in spaced relationship with said first member,means for securing said second member a predetermined distance from saidfirst member, and loop means hav-' ing one end secured to said secondmember and said strap member topermit said second member to slide onsaid strap member and to be pivoted in a plane parallel to to the planeof said strap member, and another end of said loop means beingdetachably locked to said second member.

6. Locking means for skis and the like comprising a strap member, afirst clamp member formed on one end of said strap member, a secondclamp member slidably disposed on said strap member, lug means on saidsecond clamp member adapted to engage said strap member for preventingslidable movement thereon, and flexible loop means having one endsecured to saidsecond clamp memher and said strap member to pivotallyconnect said second clamp member to said strap. member in a plane paral*lel to the plane of said strap member, and said loop means havinganother end detachably locked to said second clamp member. I

7. Locking means for skis and the like comprising a strap member, crossbars on one end thereof terminating in inwardly disposed flangesextending substantially parallel to said strap forming a clamp member, asecond clamp member slidably disposed on said strap for varying thedistance between said clamp members, lug means on said second clampmember adapted to engage said strap ber having a slot therein, cablemeans'having one end threaded through said slot and securedto saidsecond clamp member and pivotally connecting said second clamp member tosaid strap member in a plane parallel to the plane of said strap member,means for locking said lug means in one of said notches and another endof said cable means to said second clamp member.

9. A device for securing skis and the like comprising a flat strapmember, a first clamp member on one end thereof, a U-shaped clamp memberslidably disposed on said strap member and having the legs of theU-shaped clamp member enclosing the opposite sides of saidstrap member,said strap member having spaced notches there:

r in, lug means on said U-sha-ped clamp member adapted member forpreventing slidable movement thereon, and I flexible cable means lockingsaid second clamp member to said strap member to permit said secondclampmember to'be pivoted about said strap member in a plane parallel to theplane of said strap member to engage and disengage said lug means withsaid strap member, said flexible cable means having a free endd'etachably locked to said second clamp member.

8. Locking means for skis and the like comprising a flat strap member,crossbars on one end thereof having inwardly extending flanges forming afirst clamp member, said strap member having spaced notches therein, asecond clamp member slidably disposed on said strap member for'varyingthe distance between said clamp members, lug means on said second clampmember adapted to be engaged in one of said notches to prevent slidablemovement of said second clamp member, said strap memto engage in one ofsaid notches to adjust the distance between said clamp members, loopmeans for locking said U-shaped clamp member to said strap member andpermitting said U-shaped member to be pivoted with respect to said strapmember in a plane parallel to the plane of said strap member, and othermeans for securing said device about a fixed member.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said other means comprises a flexiblecable with one end secured to said loop means and the other end of saidflexible cable having another loop secured to said U-shaped member.

11. A device for securing skis and the like comprising a flat strap,outwardly extending cross bars disposed on one end thereof, inwardlyextending flanges disposed on said cross bars, said strap having aplurality of spaced notches therein opposite said cross bars, a clampmember slidably disposed on said'strap, lugrmeans on said clamp memberfor insertion in one of said notchesfo prevent sliding of said clampmember on said strap, another crossbar and other flanges disposed onsaid clamp member, said other flanges extending toward said firstmentioned flanges to hold an object therebetween, there being alongitudinal slot in said strap below said notches, said clamp memberhaving openings therein in alignment with said slot, a flexible cablehaving an end threaded through one .of said openings and said slotsecuring it to said clamp member, and a padlock threaded through anotherof said openings, said slot, and another end of said cable, to' fix saidclamp member with respect to said strap, and detachably lock said cablethereto, to permit the device to be secured about a fixed object. 7

12. A device for securing skis and the like comprising'a flat strap,outwardly extending crossbars disposed on one end thereof, inwardlyextending flanges disposed on said crossbars, said strap having aplurality of spaced notches therein opposite said crossbars, a clampmember slidably disposed on said strap, lug means on said clamp memberfor insertion in one of said notches to prevent sliding of said clampmember on said strap, another crossbar and other flanges disposed onsaid clamp member extending toward said first mentioned flanges to holdan object therebetween, there being a longitudinal slot in said strapbelow said notches, said clamp member having openings therein inalignment with said slot, a closed ring threaded through one of saidopenings and said slot securing said clamp member to said strap, and apadlock threaded through another of said openings and said slot, to fixsaid clamp member on said strap a pre determined distance from saidfirst mentioned crossbar to lock a pair of skis together therebetween.

13. A device for securing skis and the like comprising a flat strap,outwardly extending crossbars disposed on one end thereof, inwardlyextending flanges disposed on said crossbars, said strap having aplurality of .spaced notches therein opposite said crossbars, U-shaped'member slidably disposed on said strap, a downwardly extending lug onsaid U-shaped member for insertion in one of said notches to preventsliding of said U-shaped member on said strap, another crossbar andanother flange disposed on each leg of said U-shaped member, said otherflanges extending toward said first mentioned flanges to hold an objecttherebetween, there being a longitudinal slot in said strap below saidnotches, the legs of said U-shaped member having openings therein inalignment with said slot, a closed ring threaded through one of saidopenings and said slot securing it to said U- shaped member, and apadlock threaded through another of said openings and said slot, to fixsaid U-shaped memher with respect to said strap a predetermined distancefrom said first mentioned crossbar to lock a pair of skis togethertherebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSWilliams July 30, Matthews July 28, Harris Jan. 8, Wiebe Apr. 10,Sinamski Dec. 29, Imparato Mar. 29, Madden Oct. 18,

FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Mar. 30,

1. A DEVICE FOR SECURING SKIS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A FLAT STRAP,OUTWARDLY EXTENDING CROSS BARS DISPOSED ON ONE END THEREOF, INWARDLYEXTENDING FLANGES DISPOSED ON SAID CROSS BARS, SAID STRAP HAVING APLURALITY OF SPACED NOTCHES THEREIN OPPOSITE SAID CROSS BARS, A U-SHAPEMEMBER SLIDABLY DISPOSED ON SAID STRAP, A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING LUG ONSAID U-SHAPE MEMBER FOR INSERTION IN ONE OF SAID NOTCHES TO PREVENTSLIDING OF SAID U-SHAPE MEMBER ON SAID STRAP, ANOTHER CROSS BAR ANDANOTHER FLANGE DISPOSED ON EACH LEG OF SAID U MEMBER, SAID OTHER FLANGESEXTENDING TOWARD SAID FIRST MENTIONED FLANGES TO HOLD AN